The Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition's special award for virtuoso etude performance recognized years of focused technical work, particularly on Liszt's transcendental études.

The Art of the Étude

Preparing Liszt's "Feux Follets" taught me:

• The importance of relaxation in technical passages
• How to make virtuosity sound effortless
• Balancing clarity and pedal in rapid passages

Beyond Technique

What makes a competition-winning etude performance:

• Musicality transcending the technical demands
• Clear narrative through the piece
• Unique interpretive ideas

This award validated my belief that technique should always serve musical expression.